Pakistani troops violated the ceasefire along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district on Wednesday, triggering a swift retaliation by the Indian Army, according to security officials. The firing in the Tarkundi area led to “heavy casualties” on the Pakistani side, though the exact extent of damage remains unknown. The Indian Army neither confirmed nor denied the reports.
This ceasefire violation occurred just a day after two Indian soldiers, including a captain, lost their lives in an IED explosion near the LoC in the Akhnoor sector of Jammu district. Since India and Pakistan renewed the ceasefire agreement on February 25, 2021, such incidents have been rare.
Adding to tensions, a junior commissioned officer (JCO) of the Indian Army sustained minor injuries after accidentally stepping on a landmine during patrol duty in the same sector. The JCO, a resident of Mendhar, was immediately evacuated to a military hospital.
Over the past week, hostile cross-border activities have escalated, leading to the first ceasefire violation of 2025 and the fourth cross-border incident in five days. On Monday, a soldier was hit by sniper fire from Pakistan in the Kalal area of the Nowshera sector, while on February 8, terrorists opened fire on an Army patrol in the Keri sector of Rajouri. A landmine explosion during the night of February 4 reportedly caused casualties among terrorists attempting to infiltrate into India through the Krishna Ghati sector.
Lieutenant General Navin Sachdeva, General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Jammu-based White Knight Corps, reviewed the situation in Rajouri on February 10. He, along with GOCs of the Ace of Spades and Crossed Swords divisions, visited forward areas for operational updates. The Army’s post on its official X handle praised troops for their vigilance and urged them to be prepared for all contingencies amid heightened tensions.
